October 2008 Archives

The Citizen  Ocotber 29, 2008

By GAIL OBER
gober@citizen.com

As the national economy worsens, area economists and statisticians are keeping an eye on residential sales as an indicator of the overall health on New Hampshire's and Belknap County's economy.
Countywide, recently released third quarter statistics show residential real estate sales in Belknap County dropped 21 percent from the same period last year.
According to information provided by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors indicated the number of sales dropped from 225 in the third quarter of 2007 to 177 in the third quarter for this year. On a positive note, the values of those third quarter Belknap County sales rose 7 percent, from a 2007 median value of $232,000 to a median value of $249,000 in 2008.
"There is some seasonality or certain sales that are associated with lakefront property in September," said New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority Housing Research Director Dan Smith who said the summer buying season generally ends in September, and he was not surprised that the overall values for Belknap County were higher than the rest of the state.
As to the number of sales, local economist Russ Thibeault of Applied Economic Research said he thinks many people are giving second thoughts to second-home purchases and he is not surprised to see the number of sales lower than last year even though value appears to be holding it own.
What concerns both Smith and Thibeault is the rising number of foreclosures.

Smith said the number foreclosures in the state could reach 3,500 — a 70 percent increase over last year. In Belknap County, there were 26 properties foreclosed on 2005, 50 in 2006, 114 in 2007, and 150 in 2008 through September.
"Remember," said Smith. "There is a negative effect of foreclosure on property taxes."
He said when a property goes into foreclosure, somebody still owns it, so property taxes will be paid and are often recoverable from the next purchaser, but revenue streams can slow.
As to declining values, an overall declining value means a higher tax rate to maintain constant spending — as in the 9 cent jump in Laconia's rate over projections.
Smith said he does not expect New Hampshire to experience the declines seen in other portions of the country like Nevada, Florida and parts of Michigan. But he said in general, a marked increase in foreclosures can strain a community's ability to raise taxes.
The state, he said, has a much larger issue.
"When sales are off by 20 percent, as they have been the past three years, it represents a significant hit to the state for its revenue," said Smith.
WMUR recently reported the state's projected revenue for fiscal year 2009 could be as much as $250 million short. Gov. John Lynch has already trimmed $90 million from the state budget, but legislators may be forced to eliminate an additional $160 million in spending before June 2009.

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Present: Selectmen:  Edward J. Charest; James F. Gray; Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Hope K. Kokas, Secretary.
 
I. CALL TO ORDER:  Karel called the meeting to Order at 7:00 P.M.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES:  Betsey Made the Motion to approve the Minutes of October 9, 2008 as written.  Jim Seconded.  The Motion carried unanimously.
 
IV. NEW RESIDENTS:  Kendra S. Gravelle, Daniel M. Roy, Julie A. & Steven M. Steiner, Janice L. & Ross J. Bagley, David S. & Christine A. Boyce, Dana T. Lingelbach, Noel M. Monacella, George R. Swedberg.
 
V. PUBLIC MEETING:

1. Bill Denley, Candidate for State Senate, District 3:  Mr. Denley introduced himself to the Selectmen, adding that he is the Republican candidate for District 3.  He is a resident of Wakefield, an attorney, owner of a small business with up to 250 employees, and has had one term in the House of Representatives.  Mr. Denley added that from his experience as an employer, he is knowledgeable about the economy.  He feels that the state is headed in the wrong direction.  As a conservative, he is against over regulation and the taxation of small businesses.  He cited that the state has spent money it doesn’t have.  Ed asked Mr. Denley his opinion on a mandatory seat belt law.  He replied that he is against it as it is a question of liberty and philosophy, and leaves it up to each individual to decide.  Ed commented that leaving it up to the individual impacts the public at large.....

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JANE RICE
Meredith News  October 16th, 2008

The menu for the Moultonboro, Sandwich and Surrounding Communities Senior Meals Program for the week of Oct. 20, will be as follows, subject to change: Monday, fish square, rice pilaf, tartar sauce, cole slaw, and bread; Tuesday, liver and onions, mashed potatoes, green beans, and bread; Wednesday, chicken breast, mashed potatoes, squash, peas, cranberry sauce, and stuffing; and Thursday, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, Brussels sprouts, tossed salad, and garlic bread. Beverage and dessert are served with each meal. Through the summer, the menus have often included delicious fresh vegetables donated by the generosity of the Persons family at Ledgewood Farms, and everyone concerned with the meals program sends a special thank you to Beverley, Ed and his crew. Congregate meals are served Monday through Thursday at the Lions Club on Old Route 109 in Moultonboro, and also at the Doris Benz Community Center in Sandwich, and are also delivered hot and to your door if you are homebound by a wonderful crew of volunteers, with frozen meals available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and milk delivery on Tuesdays. All meals also include beverage, bread, and dessert, and all individuals age 60 and over are eligible. For more information, please call site manager Donna Grow at 476-5110.

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Present: Selectmen:  Karel A. Crawford, Edward J. Charest; James F. Gray; Joel R. Mudgett, Betsey L. Patten; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Hope K. Kokas, Secretary.
 
I. CALL TO ORDER:  Karel called the meeting to Order at 7:00 P.M.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES:  Betsey Made the Motion to approve the Minutes of October 2, 2008 as written.  Ed Seconded.  The Motion carried unanimously.
 
IV. NEW RESIDENTS:  Jason A. & Lisa M. Arnstein, Beryl M. Davis, III, Carol A. Blaney, William G. Near, Jasmine M. Chase, Katherine E. Voke, Samuel B. Catalano.
 
V. PUBLIC MEETING:

1. Bud Martin, Candidate for NH Senate District 3:  Judge Martin introduced himself to the Selectmen, informing them that he has been a resident of Sandwich for 20 years and has been a judge for family and children matters.  He stated he’s committed to representing the 17 towns in District 3 and keeping the lines of communication open.  Judge Martin added that the economy will be his focus.  He received the questionnaire sent to him by the Selectmen and provided each with a copy of his answers to their questions.  He stated that he is in favor of a constitutional amendment for targeted aide to needy towns and not in favor of a statewide property tax.  Karel asked him about his stand on a mandatory seatbelt law.  Judge Martin stated that he is in favor of a mandatory seatbelt law; citing that protecting the public outweighs the loss of freedom....

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The Citizen Wednesday, October 8, 2008

MEREDITH — The second meeting of the Lakes Region Energy Alliance is scheduled for Oct. 22, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Meredith Community Center.

The Lakes Region Energy Alliance is an informal collaboration of Local Energy Committee (LEC) members, municipal staff, and concerned citizens working to improve energy efficiency in the region. The LECs expressed the need for a regional approach to energy efficient planning; as a result the Alliance was conceived. The regional approach will encourage energy efficient improvements across a wide range of categories, including transportation, the built environment, natural resources, human resources, and economic development by facilitating communication with other LECs.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be driven by discussion and will provide an opportunity for LECs to share ideas and needs. An agenda is available on the LRPC website at www.lakesrpc.org. Please contact Erica Anderson at the LRPC with any questions, eandersonlakesrpc.org or 279-8171

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"Resident Kari Mosher stood up and said to selectmen, "You're all saying 'yes, that's a good idea,'" to townspeople's suggestions, "but you're not writing down any suggestions."
A statement that it was "time to get new selectmen" was met with applause from Lebanon residents"

Foster's Daily Democrat Sunday, October 12, 2008

LEBANON, Maine — Residents packed the elementary school's gymnasium on Sept. 29 for a public hearing on the town's 35 percent property tax increase this year. Resident Steve Endsley, who ran for a selectman's position earlier this year, said taxes had gone down the past two years, which "gave everybody a false sense of security."

"Why do you have to raise it all at once and kill everybody?" he asked.

Selectmen Chairwoman Judy Churchard said the increase, which was set in August, was not something officials wanted to do, but the town's former auditors had not given the town its 2007 audit by April 1, and when they hired a new auditor, town officials found out about the state of the town's tax figures. In the past two years, the tax rate went down because the town took money from the surplus and used it to lower taxes, Churchard said.
But selectmen had no immediate answer after a resident demanded to know "who authorized them to take money out of the surplus the past two years?"

Churchard later said referendums each year have allowed for the use of the surplus to lower the tax rate but, this year, there was not enough in the surplus to do so.
This year, the town's $1.1 million surplus instead "has to be used to pay the bills," Churchard said. New town auditor Ron Smith, managing partner of RHR Smith and Company, said $350,000 to $400,000 of the surplus also already is designated for federally funded road projects resulting from the Patriot's Day storms last year.

Churchard said the state owes the town money for the road projects, but has not yet paid its portion. Payment for road work should have been divided up, with the federal government paying 75 percent, the state 15 percent and the town the final 10 percent. The town also has to pay back $250,000 because the Federal Emergency Management Agency "way overestimated" what the town needed, she said. Smith said there needs to be more transparency with the budget and changes to the way the town does business.
In taking money from the surplus and using it to keep the tax rate low, town officials were "doing something they shouldn't have," and the only way to fix the problem is with a better flow of paperwork, Smith said.
There were some in the crowd who suggested using the undesignated portion of the surplus to lower the tax rate, as the town had done in prior years. But Smith said doing so would only exacerbate the problem, and by tackling the problem by raising taxes now, the town can avoid the problem in the future. "If we took $740,000 now to lower taxes, you can do that and then come back next year and have the same conversation," Smith said.
One Lebanon resident asked if it was possible to put together a new budget, get the town on a spending plan and cut out the things they no longer need. "We've never had to do that before," Churchard said, adding that she does not know how to go about taking such actions.Town residents expressed frustration during the meeting. 

Resident Kari Mosher stood up and said to selectmen, "You're all saying 'yes, that's a good idea,'" to townspeople's suggestions, "but you're not writing down any suggestions."
A statement that it was "time to get new selectmen" was met with applause from Lebanon residents.

Smith said the town is too big for three selectmen to manage alone and Churchard suggested Lebanon get a town manager. As the meeting adjourned, Churchard praised the fact that people are getting more involved in local government, and before the tax increase, people were not going to meetings or voting.

Another meeting to discuss the property tax issue has been tentatively set for 7 p.m. Oct. 28.

MCA

These are "draft" minutes and not verbatim as provided by the Selectmen's Officc. We encourage attendees to comment on any errors or inconsitencies so we can provide the public with correct and complete minutes

• While not seen anywhere in the "draft" minutes, it was clearly mentioned a number of times during the agenda item: Authorize Letter of Intent for LWC Grant & Expenditure for C/SC Reserves  that there were no plans for any new recreation building and that site planing is soley based upon the exisitng Lions Club building footprint. Unless you were there ( or watch the video on this website) you would never know this important fact.  

Present: Selectmen:  Karel A. Crawford, Edward J. Charest; Joel R. Mudgett; Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator; Hope K. Kokas, Secretary.
 
I. CALL TO ORDER:  Karel called the meeting to Order at 7:00 P.M.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. REVIEW/APPROVE MINUTES:  Joel Made the Motion to approve the Minutes of September 18, 2008 as written.  Betsey Seconded.  The Motion carried unanimously.
 
IV. NEW RESIDENTS:  Peter J. & Julia E. Velie, David E. Shapiro-Barnard, Linda R. & John H. Allen, Robert J. Ladd, Corey A. Voivin, Mark E. Hagopian, Leo J. & Linda B. Ward, Peter C. & Eileen M. May, Brenda E. & Daniel W. Dimeo, Peter G. Smith, Heather Dean, Daniel O. Hogan, Richard P. & Nancy L. Zeloski, Anne Marie E. Maroun, Norris Viviors, Freyer Sverrisson, Janet L. Sawin, Marie A. Costanza, Bruce W. & Charity E. Parker, Gary G. Wallace.
 
V. PUBLIC MEETING:

1. Susette Remson, Tax Collector, Tax Deeding:  Susette reminded the Selectmen that the tax deeding was to occur on September 24, 2008, but on that day their office received a telephone call from one tax payer requesting an extension.  Susette explained that only the Selectmen can grant an extension and they would vote on it at their next meeting.  She added that since September 24th, this resident has paid the 2005 taxes due.  This leaves one delinquent property tax payer and they are now requesting an extension to October 15, 2008.  Susette explained that previously her office wasn’t able to talk to this property owner, but communicated with their real estate agent who forwarded the message.  The property owner has just recently called and asked for the extension.  Susette added that they have made a partial payment toward the 2005 taxes and if the property was tax deeded this amount would need to be refunded to the property owner.  Betsey Made the Motion to grant an extension to Glen F. and Wendy Crosby, 175 Long Island Road, Map 271 Lot 004 until the close of the business day, 4:00 p.m. on October 15, 2008.  Betsey added that she wanted the Crosbys to know that this is the “drop dead” date.  Ed Seconded the Motion.   The Motion carried Unanimously.
2. Public Hearing:  Proposed Policy Adoption PEG Channel Access:  Karel opened the meeting for the public to comment.  Al Hume asked if the Selectmen had received any communication regarding the proposed policy....

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To MCA Supporters

Email Comments to Carter Terenzini

Your comments are needed by 4 PM tomorrow (Thursday), about

Moultonborough’s Public Access TV  ( Click here for proposed policy)

Just a reminder, this may be your only opportunity to speak out about the proposed cable TV public access policy.  The town administrator expected the Selectmen to adopt it at their last meeting on September 18^th and they appeared ready to oblige.  We convinced them to delay their vote and instead make their final draft available for review by the public.  It seems that everyone except the public at large has had a chance to comment.  They seemed unenthusiastic about delaying their vote, but did agree.  We suggest you view the September 18^th video, on our website, and judge for yourself. 

A notice in the Meredith News announced that you can submit comments, in writing to Mr. Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator, by mail PO Box 139 , Moultonborough , NH 03254 , by fax to 603-476-5835, or by email to mborota@worldpath.net, by 4pm on (Thursday) October 2^nd.    

If you want your email read, at the Selectmen's Meeting on October 2nd, please attend the meeting at 7 PM in the Town Hall.  If you can not attend and want your it read, email a copy to MCA and if appropriate one of our members will read it.  

Here ere are a few questions you may find helpful while considering your own comments.

Why do you think there was a rush to vote to accept the town administrators proposed policy without a period of public review and comment?

Does it really fulfill the needs of our townspeople or does it instead discourage or limit public access?  What do you believe the intention of those behind it is?

Why was the final draft document only posted at the town office, library and school? 

Less important information is posted on the town website, why not this?

Why does Mr. Terenzini refer to “the so-called Public Education and Government Channel(s)”, when that is exactly what it is meant to be?  Do you feel he believe in true Public Access when he says “the so-called”?

How do you feel about a non-elected town employee administrating scheduling and access on the public access channel?  Do you feel it would be too much consolidation of power in the hands of a hired employee who is not accountable to the people and who works largely out of public view?  For example, many communities have a public access committee composed of citizen volunteers and town officials.

How do you feel about a hired town employee being in control of administering the PEG (Public Education and Government) channel and providing only one (annual) report to the Selectmen covering just the numbers and types of programs authorized and aired?   It could be as bad as the incomplete and misleading minutes that the Selectmen currently accept for their own meetings.

How do you feel about the low priority placed on Public Access to the cable channel, with programs by the municipal government airing first, then the school and last of all the public?  Consider that the municipal government and the school already have their own websites, news letters and regular public meetings..

We hope you will take a few minutes to consider the importance of public comment on such an important policy and choose to make your suggestions and concerns know to the Selectmen and the Town Administrator.

 

Moultonboro Citizens Alliance (MCA)
PO Box 678
Moultonboro, NH 03254